Method of decorating



Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES,

DOROTHY FLEETWOOD, 0F FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA METHOD OF DECORATING No Drawing. Application. filed April 13,

The invention relates to a method of decorating articles made of leather, silk, satin, or the like.

It is common knowledge that articles of the general type herein disclosed as examples, viz., ladies shoes, pocketbooks, handbags, and similar appurtenances, will, after extensive or hard use, become worn and unsightly, with the result that they must be discarded, even though their actual utility is not yet exhausted. Naturally, this involves waste and expense.

An object of this invention is tomake possible further use of articles made of leather, silk, satin, or the like, which outwardly are worn and of bad appearance.

By the practice of this invention, articles of the type described may be rehabilitated to produce novel, pleasing and attractive things, and extend their life and usefulness.

Another object of the invention is to pro duce, by the method disclosed, an article which is inexpensive and which will obviate the necessity of incurring large expense In replacements by the purchase of new ones.

In carrying out the method of decorating leather articles, the outer finished surface or grain leather is removed from the layers underneath, or at least to the extent that the worn and defaced integument will be removed and a proper surfacefor the subsequent operations provided. In the case of kid orpatent leather, the grain surface when once started will easily peel ofi,'while with heavier leather small portions of the grain surface at a time may be removed in order not to injure the underlying layers. This step in the method can be accomplished with any suitable instrument or machine,.such as a knife, safety razor blade, or the like, It will be understood that the means for removing such outer layer in the first step of the method is not material, as various instrumentalities maybe adopted.

When the grain surface has been removed there will remain an undecorated, absorbent, and slightly roughened surface to which is applied a suitable foundation and which I call a leather skin. This leather skin consists of any suitable commercial paint 1929. Serial No. 354,984.

mixed with some suitable oil, to produce a mixture of proper consistency which will be I readily absorbed by the skinned surface. The paint thus applied is the motif in the completed design, and may be suitably and period, preferably of three days, but at least until it is completely set. It is quite important that this drying period be carefully observedin order to have the best results, as will be explained later. The final step in the method is to finish the entire article with shellac, preferably a white shellac, and I have found thata plurality of coats, at least two, is desirable. A drying period of seven days at least is desirable and preferable, although this might be varied, after which the method is complete and the. article finished. Y T If, before the oil painted design is sulficiently dry, shellac is applied, the tendency will beto make the various colors run togeth'er, and thus spoiljthe design effect. If the oil painted design is allowed to dr'ytoo long before the shellac is applied, there will be a tendency to crack, because the protective shellac coating does not then blend withthe set but still flexible painted design. Therefore, the correct procedure of applying the method is desirable and must be observed.

The method of decorating is not limited to leather goods necessarily, but may be applied to silk and satin articles, such as shoes, handbags, pocketbooks, and the like. In the case ofsilk and satin articles, the foundation or base paint upon which the design motif is predicated, is made of suitable commercial paint of high quality, thinned with gasoline to a proper consistency. When this has dried for a period of three days, the desired design is hand painted with oil paints, and after another three day drying period, the two coats of white shellac are applied. hen this has dried, the operation is complete.

hen once the design, according to this method, has been applied to an article, it can again be shellached from time to time to renew and preserve the brilliancy and lasting qualities of the design.

While the invention, as I have practiced it, is applied to old and worn articles of the character described, it has found great popularity in its application to new articles before they have been used.

The finished product is an article of novel make-up which is not only very attractive in appearance, but also wears surprisingly well. The design will not crack or chip off, nor will it be spoiled or lose its attractiveness when subjected to bad weather conditions. The finish is waterproof and the colored design is adequately protected from moisture and dirt, which may be washed or brushed from the shellae-ked surface.

I claim:

1. The method of decorating articles of the class described, which consists in imposing upon the article a foundation coat of paint to form the design motif, drying such foundation coat to the extent that it will not soften and mingle with other paints subsequently imposed thereon, thereafter painting on such foundation coat a decorative design of such form and color as to contrast with the foundation coat, subjecting the article to a second drying sufficient to set the foundation and decorative design against softening and mingling with other coatings subsequently imposed thereon, and finally applying a colorless finishing and protecting coating such as shellac, and drying such finishing coating.

2. A method of decorating leather which consists in removing the grained surfaces thereof to provide a liquid absorbing surface, applying to the ungrained surface a foundation coat of paint to form the design motif, drying such first coat to the extent that it will not soften and mingle with other paints subsequently imposed thereon, thereafter painting on such foundation coat a decorative design of such form and color as to contrast with the foundation coat, subjecting the leather to a second drying sufficient to set the foundation and decorative design against softening and mingling with other coatings subsequently imposed thereon, and finally applying a finishing and protecting coating thereto-and drying such finishing coating.

3. A method of decorating leather which consists in removing the grained surfaces thereof to provide a liquid absorbing surface, applying to the ungrained surface a foundation coat of paint to form the design motif, drying such first coat to the eX- tent that it will not soften and mingle with other paints subsequently imposed thereon, thereafter painting on such foundation coat a decorative design of such form and color as to contrast with the foundation coat, subjecting the leather to a second drying suflicient to set the foundation and decorative design against softening and mingling with other coatings subsequently imposed thereon, and finally applying a transparent finishing and protecting coating thereto and drying such transparent finishing and prot-cting coating.

4-. A method of decorating leather which consists in removing the grained surface thereof to provide a liquid absorbing surface, applying to the un 'rained surface a foundation coat of paint to form the design motif, drying such first coat to the extent that it will not soften and mingle with other paints subsequently imposed thereon, thereafter painting on such foundation coat a decorative design of such form and color as to contrast with the foundation coat, subjecting the leather to a second drying sufficient to set the foundation and decorative design against softening and mingling with other coatings subsequently imposed thereon, and finally applying a finishing and protecting coating of white shellac and drying such shellac coating.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

OROTHY FLEETW OOD. 

